Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I see people talking about using this to build racks. Is it generally available at a Home Depot, Lowes or Menards? Or would I have to special order it?
How easy is it to work with? Would I need any special tools or equipment?

I'm just curious. I most likely would buy my next rack. The Boaphile is actually just a couple hours away from me. BUT I always like to try to make things for myself first. If I botch it..well...I guess I've learned more from my own mistakes than from other peoples and I'd just have to pass it off as another learning experience.

Currently, all of my racks are homegrown. I'm not the best carpenter in the world but I have limited tools, funding and space so what I have made I feel pretty good about.

Thanks ahead of time for any information/weblinks you can provide.
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It's actually not that I love or even like snakes. I just hate rodents.

I don't think you'll find it a home improvement centers but you might check with sign shops. They use it for lettering, better still check the yellow pages for plastics distributors in your area.

It works pretty easily with conventional woodworking tools, a plywood blade in a circular or table saw is recommended. Also cuts well with a router, probably your best option. Cutting V channels with a v-groove router bit to established cage dimensions allows you to bend it pretty easily. The v-grooves can have the appropriate solvent applied to chemically "weld" it. End panels can be applied with the same solvent. Precision is your friend in making these types of cages and templates can be made from "masonite" for all your router cuts for production of multiple cages.

Boaphile makes great cages and their prices are very reasonable. Quality is unsurpassed and they developed these types of cages and are constantly making innovations. Depending on the tools you have and your cage making skills it may be cheaper for you to purchase from them since you live so close.
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Hope this helps.

BigT

BigT is right regarding availability - plastic shops are always cheaper than sign shops, both are cheaper than ordering due to shipping costs.

When you call around it probably is easiest to ask for Sintra or equivalent material. Sign shops often do not know what expanded PVC (aka PVCX) is.

The material is easy to cut and form as he suggested, but the bending techniques don't necessarily apply themselves to racks very well.

Also, standard "edge" joints don't work very well with this material, at least when using chemical solvents. An edge joint being where a cut edge of one panel butts up next to the surface of another panel at a 90* angle.

Chemical solvents basically cause the PVC to melt slightly and they weld together as the solvents evaporate. Same thing as joining PVC pipe.

But since the interior of PVCX is foamed it tends to collapse slightly when a solvent is applied, making for a weak joint.

There are ways around this but first let us know what species this rack will be for and whether it will hold adults only or hatchlings, juveniles, and adults of said species.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

Thanks to the both of you. You've cleared up a lot for me. I would be building a hatchling rack for ball pythons. BUT, after reading both of your posts (and especially Big T's comment on precision), I think I'll just purchase my next rack. My tools are simple and I generally have the home improvement store make my big cuts simply because I don't have a table saw (no room for one).

Thanks though. At least if I change my mind in the future (which is more than likely) I know where to go to for supplies. Big help.
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It's actually not that I love or even like snakes. I just hate rodents.

..............but it involves useing melamine,it's very heavy as we all know.i live in an apartment and also don't have a table saw,my last two racks i designed and had a cabinet shop cut the pieces and i assembled and wired.you get perfect cuts and no left over pieces.i found it to be less expensive than buying a rack.there's pros and cons either way,food for thought.have fun!

twh,

Could you maybe email the plans you used for your rack. I know of most of the places online where people get there rack plans from. But I am always interested in other plans. Especially if it is cheaper than buying a rack.

(I live in an apartment too so I completely understand where you are coming from.)
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It's actually not that I love or even like snakes. I just hate rodents.